Local Hunter based business, ACIM Solutions has won a three-year contract with NSW Ambulance to provide occupational violence training to over 4,000 staff within the agency.

The one-day program is part of a three-day Wellbeing Workshop that NSW Ambulance has developed to support their workforce to manage the challenges around the increased aggression their workforce is currently experiencing.

Founding Director of ACIM Solutions, Philippa Woolf said Paramedics face more violence on the job than Police Officers.

“Unfortunately the number of incidents involving violence against Paramedics is on the increase, with current assault rates at double those of Police,” Philippa said.

“The development and implementation of the workshop follows a 2017 report by the NSW Government – Violence Against Emergency Services Personnel – and a major internal agency review which identified the shocking reality of increased occupational violence for those working in emergency services and particularly the health sector.

“Unbelievably, even Control Centre staff are increasingly being abused by some members of the public with aggressive and threatening language, while at the same time they are seeking Ambulance assistance.

Philippa said the tailored program has been developed in close consultation with those at the coal face to ensure that the content specifically reflects their operating environment.

“Our facilitation team know first-hand the risks involved in managing aggressive or potentially violent situations in the community and this shared experience has been invaluable as we work through the different parts of the program,” Philippa said.

“We focus on building the skills and techniques to manage volatile and unpredictable situations more positively using situational awareness, dynamic risk assessments and de-escalation strategies. The feedback from the first few programs has been overwhelmingly positive and we are really pleased that participants have reported an increased confidence in managing challenging and violent interactions after the training.”

Philippa commented that sadly increasing incidents of violence towards people, in both the private and public sector who are undertaking community work, is a trend occurring around Australia.

“In the past two years the number of clients we are working with has doubled as leaders recognise the growing need to manage these identified risks and to equip their staff with the practical skills they need to ensure they remain safe while performing their valuable community work.”

IMAGE | ACIM Solutions have won a three-year training contract with NSW Ambulance.